To accelerate the development of MICE in Vietnam and bring it closer to the public, we distribute a series of articles on the subject. This initial article centres on the definition and framework of tourism, as well as the attributes and distinctions of MICE tourism.
Attributes pertaining to MICE tourism
Numerous studies in this domain demonstrate that MICE tourism contributes significantly to the growth of tourism destinations and the tourism industry (Dwyer and Mistilis, 1999; Dwyer, Mellor, Mistilis, and Mules, 2000; Getz, 2007, 2008; McCartney, 2008; Camparinon and Arcadia, 2008). The exchange of expertise and knowledge in science and other disciplines necessitates the coordination of numerous international gatherings. While the objectives of these events may differ among organizations and participants, they all share a common goal: to foster an environment that facilitates collaboration, information sharing, conversation, issue-solving, the development of friendships and business connections, and the promotion of more efficient operations for both organizations and individuals. Value creation is the ultimate objective of the event for all stakeholders.
Janakiraman (2012) identifies the subsequent attributes of MICE tourism: *Three peaks: substantial growth potential; high added value; and substantial innovation benefits; *Three broad: extensive collaboration with other industries; and *vast exit opportunities; and *wide-ranging employment creation prospects. Three advantages are the cost-effectiveness compared to other industries in terms of human resources, technical expertise, and resource utilization efficiency. The aforementioned attributes indicate that the growth of MICE tourism fosters socio-economic progress and bestows numerous advantages upon enterprises, visitors, and residents.
MICE passengers
A visitor, as defined by the Vietnam Tourism Law (2017), is an individual who engages in travel or tourism-related activities, excluding those who are there for academic or employment purposes. Certain studies suggest that MICE tourists consist of organization personnel or individuals sponsored by the company themselves, who engage in both domestic and international MICE tourism endeavours or have previously attended MICE events (Cook, Yale, Marqua, 2006; Swarbrooke and Horner, 2001; Chao, 2010). It pertains to individuals who partake in MICE tourism research, attend MICE events, or engage in professional development courses organized by the company beyond the confines of the workplace. Thus, MICE travellers are individuals who travel both domestically and internationally to attend MICE events.
As classified by the International Professional Conference (MPI), MICE travellers fall into the subsequent classifications:
(1) Tourists who pursue information are driven by the desire to expand their understanding in their professional domain or specific area of expertise. The annual conference is regarded as a critical consideration for them when it comes to time management.
(2) This category of MICE tourists, value-seeking tourists, compares the conference fee with the benefits they will obtain by participating. They consider overall conference expenses and the location of the event when deciding whether or not to attend in order to apply newly acquired knowledge or practical skills.
(3) When searching for social networks, tourists frequently prioritize the ability to communicate with coworkers and members of society; they frequently combine work and leisure while paying close attention. event; (4) For a variety of factors, tourists attend events and prioritize convenient orientation. Due to time constraints, they frequently experience time pressure.
(5) In an effort to establish a habit, tourists frequently engage in MICE activities on an annual basis. behaviours in one's own life. Thus, MICE tourists are a subset of tourists, but their travel motivation differs slightly from that of ordinary tourists in that they are primarily interested in gaining knowledge, developing good habits, or acquiring values. greater in familiarity than travel. More often than not, MICE tourists incur greater expenses and have lengthier stays than other types of tourists.
A destination for MICE
Diverse viewpoints and approaches exist regarding particular subjects. As per Getz (2007), a MICE destination comprises seven fundamental components: (i) infrastructure, (ii) lodging, (iii) transportation, (iv) appeal, (v) amenities, (vi) retail establishments, and (vii) entertainment venues. Additionally, it should include facilities, which encompass locations that inspire investigation and exploration. According to Chiu and Ananzeh (2012), in their research on MICE destinations in Jordan, for a location to be globally competitive in conducting MICE events, it must offer the following: services; accessibility; legal responsibility; reasonable price (affordable); sights (attractive); and an abundance of activities. We propose, on the basis of the aforementioned notion of distinct approaches, that a MICE destination is a geographic region endowed with distinctive attributes that generate infrastructure and services that are appealing, adaptable, and of superior quality. Integrate internal and external resources to the destination in order to deliver high-quality MICE tourism offerings.
When contrasting MICE destinations with tourism destinations as investigated by Truong and King (2009), it becomes evident that the latter frequently incorporate elements referred to as the “5As”: attractiveness, activities, accessibility, accommodations, and amenities. Responsibility differentiates a MICE destination from a conventional tourism destination. Providing superior human resources, a more comprehensive and timely selection of products and services, and a more complete tourism infrastructure.
The virtues of MICE tourism
As per the findings of the research, MICE tourism offers the following benefits:
To begin with, it increases the tourism industry's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign exchange transactions as a result of the consumption and income of international MICE visitors, as well as foreign purchases and deliveries. Translation of international trade (Katsitadze and Natsvlishvili, 2017); Statistics indicate that MICE frequently generates six times the revenue of other categories of tourism.
Furthermore, the establishment of international conventions and exhibition centres in MICE destinations is propelled by development. Invested in, constructed, and managed are upscale resorts and hotels (Fan, 2017; Katsitadze and Natsvlishvili, 2017).
Furthermore, organizing and hosting conferences and exhibitions at the regional, national, and international levels, ensures a consistent influx of domestic and international visitors over time. Furthermore, fosters the formation of a network of relationships between domestic and international stakeholders to facilitate the coordination of MICE tourism activities and the transfer of research findings.
Fifth, foster cultural identity development and exchange between travellers and locals; this is the foundation for promoting ethnic cultures and assimilating the essence of other ethnicities' cultures.
